One-third of all driving tests will be taken in an automatic car in 2026/27, the AA has predicted.

The AA, whose new EV Readiness Index launched earlier this week, says the trend highlights a growing shift in learner preferences and shows the UK is accelerating toward a new era of driving.

Latest data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) shows a consistent rise in the number of automatic tests conducted.

In 2012/13, just 6.1% of all driving tests were taken in automatics. By 2023/24, that had surged to 23.4% before hitting 26% in 2024/25, which equated to 479,556 automatic car driving tests being conducted.

This growth reflects a fundamental change in learner behaviour. Searches for automatic driving lessons across AA and BSM have steadily increased year-on-year, rising from 26% in FY22 to 34% in the first half of FY26.

If current growth continues, AA Driving School expects automatic driving tests could reach 32% for the 2026/27 year, accelerating toward a tipping point where manual tests are no longer the norm.

The rise in automatic tests is fuelled by a combination of technological innovation and government policy. Electric vehicles, all of which are automatic, are becoming increasingly common on UK roads. As more drivers make the switch to EVs, many learners are choosing to train in vehicles that reflect the future of driving.

The Government’s ZEV mandate, which requires car manufacturers to sell an increasing proportion of electric vehicles each year, is also a core factor.

The AA Driving School recently added three new electric vehicle options to its fleet, increasing the choice of car for its franchised driving instructors.

Since June, AA Driving School franchisees can opt for a Mini Aceman SE, Volkswagen ID.3 Pro Hatch or BYD Dolphin Comfort.

In 2024, more than 68,000 hours of driving lessons were taught by AA Driving School franchisees in electric vehicles, and 36% of its instructor trainees opted to begin their teaching careers in an automatic vehicle. So far in 2025, that figure has risen slightly to 37%, which shows a steady and growing interest in automatic instruction.

Emma Bush, managing director, AA Driving School, said: “As we head closer to 2030 and the ban on the sale of new combustion cars, more and more learners will want to learn in an electric vehicle as that’s all they will plan to drive.

“It makes sense that we are able to offer a choice of these vehicles to our instructors, so they can ensure they are able to meet rising consumer demand.

“As EVs and hybrids become more popular due to lower day-to-day running costs and as the impending ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars gets closer, more people are choosing to learn in an automatic.”